Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-21

lane, watching for the lover who did
not come, while her lips seemed 10
form the refrain OF the old childish
sport, "He cometh, he cometh not"
So the day wore away; but just as
dark seemed to close in and preclude
all further hope OF news the whole
household was startled by a loud
shrek. They rushed down to find
Olive lying motionless on the hall
floor, her hand clenched over letter
Just opened. The last post had been
delayed, and once more she had been
the one to receive the letters. One
glance mt the note revealed all. II WAS
from stranger, who stated that Mr.
Printon had met with a severe acct
dent, from which conclusion of the
brain of so fatal character had ensued
that he had died some five hours after
the fall. All this was told in the most
hurried of scrawls, so brief and hasty
that the writer had forgotten to add
his address or to give any details as TO
arrangements which might be made.
OF course, the first care with the
doctor was to see his daughter but =
when she had been put to bed he sat
up to consider the whole matter. He
would, Of course, have hurried up to
town himself but for the impossibility
of leaving his patients at moments
notice; while, in addition, it seemed
scarcely wise to go till Olive woke out
of the Inconsistencies into which she
bad fallen. Next morning, indeed. she
was better, though her white, drawn
face and listless manner betrayed
tho full extent of the shock.
Even then she was hardly able to do
more than lie languidly back in
chair, letting others do all that was
necessary in getting mourning. Her
Chief employment seemed to be that OF
reading over and over again the an
nouncement of death which had APP
ptared in the morning papers. 1t must
be owned that the punctual appearance
of this had allayed much OF the un-
easiness in the worthy Doctors mind,
though he wished most fervently that. in
to stating that death was due to
an accident, it had contained some
as to the place where the
Inflated Henry Brinton had died. Still
he rested content in the knowledge
that the solicitors to the deceased
would communicate with him when
they came to examine into the will.
A few days hac worn away when
Olive received letter stating that the
funeral had taken place at the High
gate cemetery. This news turned her
thoughts i'll fresh direction, and she
followed her father into his study with
the request that he would take her up
to see the grave as soon as, he could.
he only thing which delayed his CON
sent a minute was doubt whether the
Of her health did not prOhi-
bit such q scheme asunwise but when
be noticed the plaintive-even piteous-
endurance with which she pressed her
request be gave way, thinking as he did
so that it would be Just as well for him
TO 90 up himself and see after matters.
l be opportunity was welcome one on
that account, for as he received no COM
fear came over him lest
he silver may, the GOLDEN lining to
heir cloud should prove illusory.
They went to London the next morn
ing, but as she obviously shrank from
nee ting any one, whether stranger or
friend, he decided to drive off to the
cemetery at once, and then to try and
discover some place where she would
be willing to go and rest for an hour
Or two. Al throughout the drive her
Dcrvous excitement increased, TIL he
feared that lie had made a mistake in
allowing her to encounter so severe a
rial The burial ground reached, size
asked her father to let her stroll On
while he went in to inquire the locality |
If the grave. He watched her as
lie went slowly into the by-path,
ceiling al a fathers sadness for
lie heavy sorrow that had come and
lowed the slight figure that looked 80
ragile in its deep mourning; then he
urned and asked the attendant to tell
lim where the grave, OF Mr.. Briuton
vas. As he awaited the answer, which
vas little delayed, he could not avoid
himself on the denseness
If memory so clogged that It's ma
.hinery was long i'll bringing out the
note. His thoughts were
JrOken in Oh by the voice of the man.
IL don't think there has been bu-
-ial III that name. sir.
"Oh, yes" he replied, sit was on
tuesday last"
Tue sday.' echoed the attendant, |
md once again he seemed to wind mp |
lis memory to its necessary work. But
With all the winding be could not re-
all the name. At last he said he |
would 90 and look in the register; but |
he register contained no entry of the
name Of Erinton. Not content with |
looking through tie list of funerals on |
tuesday they glanced at all that had
occurred since, and then went so far
pack as to make sure that he had not |
been buried on the day previous to his |
lecease. 1t was all to no purpose, and |
When the Doctor ceased his search he |
stood in the porch of the lodge, the
standing on his brow.
while his important bearing and
.vident indignation only height
ned the mockery OF the scene.
1t first he had given way to
little outbur>t of wrath, bidding the
.ftcial find the grave, look for 1t, and
lot stand gaping there. 1t was the
nst straw to lose the 6 ave after losing
! future son-in-law. Then the folly Of
us anger dawned upon him, and be
bad core to the open door, and nov
stood looking down tire patti at the be-
-eaved girl, who passed slowly on,
canning each new-turned mound with
m unconcealed apprehension. He had
to tell the news to her. Thanking the
who, at first irritated, were
pow half sympathetic i'll their manner,
he went quickly along the path till he
overlook Olive. She turned to meet
him with an inQulring glance which
took no heed Of the signs of perplexity
on his countenancc.
"Olive," he said, trying to assume
The light tone in which he would utter
some mere commonplace "Olive,
/ IN afraid there's been some mistake"
Yes, father, what?" but the tone
in which the question was uttered
showed lack of interest; there was
but one subject about which she felt
anxiety.
why" and in trying to break the
news he Int it os bluntly as possible,
IL l.. i